WATCH: Massive hailstorm erupts in Acrisure Stadium as Steelers-Cowboys game sees delay

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers have had multiple memorable games against each other, including three Super Bowl matchups in the 20th century. But this latest one in 2024 has taken longer than expected to materialize.

On Sunday, the two multiple-time champion franchises were supposed to meet at Acrisure Stadium for the Sunday Night Football game. But minutes before kickoff, a brutal hailstorm hit the hrea, forcing a delay that so far seems to have no end in sight.

105.3 The Fan radio host Zach Wolchuk managed to capture a video showing how brutal the weather conditions were:

The Cowboys were entering the game without two key defenders: defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) and linebacker/pass rusher Micah Parsons (ankle). However, they were set to welcome back cornerback Trevon Diggs after his ACL injury last season.

The Steelers, meanwhile, are missing supposed starting quarterback Russell Wilson for the fifth straight game, with Justin Fields taking his place.

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What is at stake in delayed Cowboys-Steelers game?

Entering the game, the Cowboys were a pedestrian 2-2, sandwiching road wins over the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants between losses to the New Orleans Saints between home losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. And they badly needed a win to catch up to the surprisingly dominant Washington Commanders, who have been reaping the rewards of having Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn on the team

Quarterback Dak Prescott had been on a surprising pattern, dominating in the air with over 500 passing yards in the two losses combined, while having just barely 300 in the two wins.

But it was the lack of a ground game that had been hurting them. Ezekiel Elliott, re-signed after a year in New England, failed to hit 100 rushing yards so far while sharing the backfield with Rico Dowdle.

Micah Parsons himself was still nowhere to be seen as well. After getting a sack in the season-opener, he had gone sackless since then.

Meanwhile, the Steelers had gone a shocking 3-1 with Justin Fields, whose career had looked doomed with Russell Wilson on the same team. But in their last game, they surprisingly lost 24-17 at the Indianapolis Colts, while their divisional rival Ravens routed the Buffalo Bills 35-10 that same week, then outlasted the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday to put themselves at 3-2.

Thus, it was imperative for the black-and-gold to win the game to put distance between themselves and their closest rivals.